THE GREY RIVER ARGUS WEDNESDAY, June 21, 1925 THE COAL MINERS’ HARDSHIPS.

Grey River Argus, 24 June 1925, Page 4

THE GREY RIVER ARGUS WEDNESDAY, June 21, 1925 THE COAL MINERS’ HARDSHIPS.

rpilH PUBLIC doubtless are generally aware? of the fact that, for a. long time past, hard times have been the lot of the coal miners as a class; but the experience of a quarter of a. century past has taught the lesson to the miners themselves that be their hardships what they may, there is nothing that is equal to .focussing upon them popular attention, except a perceptible shortage of the commodity which the miners supply. Whether the importation of coal keeps our own miners idle is a matter about which neither the Government nor the majority of coal consumers care a brass farthing so long as their own fuel needs are adequately met, and in the present circumstances it seems that this callous, negligent attitude of mind would persist in spite of everything except a cessation of outside suppies. What c<‘ssation of outside supplies. What a contrast there is here in comparison with the ]>ropaganda for profits on behalf of the employing classes. The public are incessantly being schooled in the idea that the exporters of our primary products must be found good markets overseas, as well as within the Dominion, by the aid of tariff im-

ports and other artifices and more than that it is everywhere the cry that we must here provide a good market for the exports of British capitalists, and thereby help to relieve the unemployement in the Old Country. What about our own unemployed? It. is loft to themselves to think how their lot is to be bettered. For their part, the coal miners have had their conviction confirmed that, since self-re-liance is their sole resource, they must organise in such a way as will best fit them to meet such a situation. They are convinced industrial unionism must take the place of craft unions, and that sectionalism must be no longer allowed to hamper the workers in their industry when there is the question of fixing conditions, hours, and wages on a reasonable and bearable basis. For one thing, with such a great loss ox time as there has been for a lengthy period, it would have been far preferable had the. fiveday week now recommended by the miners been instituted spontaneously by the employers. But the employers seem to cling to tho delusion that their interests will be better served in the long run by a policy of hostility and exploitation towards tho miners. At Millerton wo see the employers resorting to discrimination i'n the distribution of work and leavj

ing flie nie»n longest without work to go still longer unemployed. Is this fair or reasonable? Can any employer hon estly defend such a. policy'? It is the very negat.io»n of justice, and the surest road to dissension. The miners at Millerton, when dismissal notices were some time ago served out wholesale among them, gave the employers an object lesson by agreeing to a distribution of the work available among them all but 'now we see the, management doing their best to set this adjustment at nought; or, at any rate, to dethrone the principle of it. We have no doubt tho minors will have the sympahty of the great majority of tho people m the determined' stand they have taken against the discrimvnation. They arc fighting, not for individual gain, but tor a principle designed to give the unemployed men a share, of work and a chance to live. The Government has done the whole West Coast a very poor service by the way it has allowed the coal industry to stagnate, and it is to be hoped the community will not lose sight of the fact when they come to pass judgment presently upon the present administration which has no consideration whatever for the wagc-